Cappella di San Rocco, Renaissance chapel in Villongo, Italy
Cappella di San Rocco is a Renaissance chapel in Villongo featuring an open floor plan with slender columns of Sarnico sandstone. The interior rises under an umbrella vault ceiling decorated with six domed sections painted with cloud scenes and marble-like patterns.
The chapel was decorated between 1526 and 1528 with frescoes by the painter Romanino, who depicted religious figures including the Madonna with Child and saints. These works were created during a period of intense artistic activity in the Brescia region.
The chapel is dedicated to Saint Rocco, venerated locally as a protector against illness and plague. The choice of location near the cemetery reflects how faith was woven into daily life and burial practices of the time.
The original frescoes were relocated in 1967 to Casa Bondurri, located near the baptistery of the parish church, to protect them from deterioration. You can view these preserved artworks there when visiting the nearby building.
The vault features six dome sections with openings that look upward, creating a window to painted skies rendered in white and orange clouds. This play with vertical space and painted perspectives creates an engaging illusion of looking straight toward heaven.
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